Diageo global flag raising marks Pride & LGBTQ+ inclusion

June 06, 2022

As part of its commitment to inclusion, Diageo global teams came together to take part in a Progress Pride Flag raising at over 80 sites around the world.

Led by the Rainbow Network, one of Diageo's Employee Resource Groups, the company's global Pride activities kicked off with its largest Progress Pride flag raising event ever.

“I am so incredibly proud to be part of an organization where I’m not only innovating on world-renowned brands, but I am also able to show up as my most authentic self every day. June is very special to me because my colleagues on the Rainbow Network team always do a fantastic job of bringing the community together through a variety of celebratory events,” said Kelsey Gow, Diageo Liquid Innovation Manager.

Inclusive activities

Throughout the Pride, Diageo's Rainbow Network resource group is hosting a number of further activities around the world.

For example, the North America Rainbow Network in partnership with the Smirnoff Brand Team is joined Alyssa Edwards, star of Ru Paul’s Drag Race for a fabulous virtual Drag Bingo.

Celebrating Queer Britain partnership

Diageo has laucned a two-year partnership with Queer Britain in London, the UK’s first national LGBTQIA+ museum. As part of the partnership, archivists for brands such as Guinness and Johnnie Walker, are working with Queer Britain to upskill volunteers and create archive best practices that will enable the museum to preserve LGBTQIA+ history.

To mark the partnership with Queer Britain and opening of the new LGBTQIA+ Museum in London, a launch event took place at Diageo 1HQ with opening comments from Cristina Diezhandino, Rainbow Network’s Global Ally. The CÎROC team hosts an Iconic Ball to honour 50 years of LGBTQIA+ UK history - past, present, and future.

Hosting educational events

Diageo's Supply Chain & Procurement Rainbow Network hosts a series of educational events including a Learning 4 Life event based at Johnnie Walker Princes Street aimed at upskilling hospitality teams across LGBTQIA+ venues, a virtual webinar with the We Are All Able Employee Resource Group to highlight intersectionality of people living with a disability, and a relaunch of the Rainbow Network book club.

Donating money to a good cause

In Brazil, The Bar is collaborating with Casa 1, a local charity to support LGBTQIA+ homelessness, donating a sizable percentage of sales to help improve the livelihood of individuals, particularly those within the Trans community.

Committed to championing inclusion

Diageo is committed to championing inclusion. The company has launched Gender Identity and Expression Guidelines in over 20 countries to ensure that it has support in place for employees who are transitioning, have transitioned, who recognize themselves to be a different gender from the gender assigned to them at birth, are gender-fluid or non-binary.

Diageo is a proud member of Open for Business, an alliance of leading companies committed to supporting LGBTQIA+ inclusion and are signatories of the UN Global LGBTI Standards of Conduct for Business. For the 14th time, Diageo was awarded full marks on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.

At Diageo, the conversation continues beyond the month of June, as they keep celebrating their people 'Every day, Everywhere.'

Ensuring acceptance is everywhere

Pride is a key part of Diageo's Society 2030: Spirit of Progress commitments to champion inclusion and diversity.

"Celebrating Pride is not just the right thing to do, it’s a way to ensure our employees feel they can bring their whole selves to the workplace, every day. However, we need society to go further. There is still a long way to go for this community to be accepted in parts of the world. Our work here will not be done until acceptance is everywhere," says Diageo.